Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-11-03
NIAGARA FALLS.
lBy DIR. +, b. Robiusoh.l

htdIu IKE lhe roll OF distant thpu.
der continued. The vibrations ouiv-
er and tremble like the dying echoes
OF the thunder through long val.
ley. 1t is the sound of natures
revelry which goes ON by day and
night Nature has summoned here.
her grander forces to bedeck her
wondrous capitol of natural cenery
with an apparent show Of violence.
Nature was never known to be
strong IN display, but here with
more than lavish hand has she ay-
rayed her powers. Her forces have
been sporting loosely above in the
crystal lakes, but here ON the brow
OF this mountain civil rebellion oc
ours, an endless war of elements full
of sound and fury. The waters of
> great lakes is compressed through
tins narrow channel. The first ap.
pearance of Niagara Falls on the
mind is very impressive Magnitude
and greatness cume first IN the mlnd;
grandeur, force and power soon fol
low, AS the eye beholds that vast
volume OF water dash over the rocky
ledge OF coast. Surely the bed OF
the river Is very uneven.
The first sight" of the cataract
bewlIders and confuses so AS To
make II little unsatisfactory. One
hears the roar, sees the mist and
foam and vaned eolored water but
Is llttle puzzled whether 1t Is what
ne eXpected-dlsappolntment or
OVer-aEtlolpauon.
One is quickly reminded of Sou.
they's poem written by suggestive
question from hls little ohlld as TO
How does the water come down at
Lodoret Southey answered the
child IN rhyne because he said he
was Poet Laureate - his boy aud
The klug.
THE cataract stroug then rushes along,
Striking and ringing AS II war waging;
CollocIins, projecting, roceding aud speeding.
shocking ana rocking, dartins aud parting.
fouflhg aud roaring and waving and rowing,
DHttering and trittering. aud whitening aud
frightening,
Dividing and gliding and sliding.
Failing and Drawing aud sprawllnR,
Grum0hng aud rumbling aud tumbling,
Advancing and prancing and ghtnutng ana
dancing,
Rushing and gushing, flushing and blushing,
lhumplng and pumping auG humping and
Jumping,
Dashng ana flashing and spashlng and clash
ing,
And so never ending but always descending
sounds and motions foreverand ever are blend
ing"
L he time one remains AT the Falls
modlties very much his views. Too
short stay makes one lttle too
enthusiastic, while almost all the
old residents get as Indifferent To
It's charms AS ohaA espeare's grave
digger did 10 throwing skulls out
of the grave. The newness of "A
VISIT invests the whole cataract Win
q ven OF novelty but sober second
thought soon wear them away.
There Is even novelty in watching
the process Of death, but use aud
experience hardens unlll human
death effects one but slightly. Few
mUrtals can write OF the Falls with
any degree Of satisfaction. Grand.
eur of size, sublmIty OF power aud
majesty of notion are things too
great 10 be described by pen. Sea
eon, sun aud moon modify the APP
pearance OF the Falls very much.
The attractions az resort III
creases every year as travel increases
from every quarter OF the world.
InnumerabIe people itock TO this
wonder Of nature to gaze with deep
feeling on this river flowing over "a
mountain. A few bare facts may
he suggestive. Father HenniWu
first visited Niagara IN 1878. The
Falls have receded 70 feet in l75
years. From 1918 to 1867 SO much
of table rock broke away and fell
INTO the flood that the Canadian
Government blew up the rest for
safety 10 visitors. As an instance
IN 1850 a fragment 200 feet long
and 100 feet thick broke and fell 10
the Water-, on winch only few
minutes before some so persons
we're standing. The first suspension
bridge Was built by John A. Roeb
nng. aud IL tor railroad aud CARR
ages. About 500 miles of wire vas
used in the cables. The new sus
pension bridge vas butt 10 1868.
IT, length Is 1863 feet and ito cables
are 800 feet long. he Canteleyer
bridge wss buut IN 1855. This Is "a
new torn Of bridge which has only
TWO abulments, or piers, tbat balance
The bridge as on pivot, with The
long arm resting on the shore.
Tie length OF the Niagara Falls
is 1854 feet. The volume OF water
which goes over the FAILS is more
than is feet thick, winch was proved
ii 1929 BY sending condensed YES
4. over. The vessel drew | 3 feet
,...t.r Lut dl8 NOT strike the cliff